Upper Cape brings graduation home

Wednesday

May 28, 2008 at 12:01 AM

BOURNE — A little bit of history will be recorded Sunday when Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School holds its first graduation in more than three decades on its own campus high above the Cape Cod Canal.

PAUL GATELY

BOURNE — A little bit of history will be recorded Sunday when Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School holds its first graduation in more than three decades on its own campus high above the Cape Cod Canal.

The 1 p.m. ceremony will be conducted on a grassy area outside Upper Cape Tech.

The technical school usually holds its graduation at nearby Bourne High School.

No longer.

"One of two goals when I was appointed was to bring this graduation home,"

Upper Cape Superintendent Kevin Farr said Tuesday. "Home to an enhanced building, campus, physical plant, fields, enhanced programs and alumni association. The last memory our graduates will have is of their own school, not Bourne High, which has been wonderful to us over the years."

As the size of graduating classes grows, Mr. Farr said, seniors will be able to secure more tickets for parents and friends.

Upper Cape Tech was constructed in 1968. The first class of seniors entered in 1969, graduating in 1970. That ceremony for 12 graduates was held in the Upper Cape Tech cafeteria. After that, however, a full complement of classes spanning four years entered the school. There was no room for graduations.

Mr. Farr said such sentiment has changed. So have thoughts about Upper Cape Tech's future and the planning for it. He said his administration is interviewing consultants in efforts to initiate strategic planning for the campus over the next 15 years.

"We want to think about how we'll look then, how we'll offer programs, where we'll offer them, how we'll accommodate our growing waiting list for admission," Mr. Farr said. "What we want to know is: How much can we grow?"

The graduating class of 2008 totals about 150 members. Graduates will assemble at 12:30 p.m. Parents and friends who arrive early will enjoy seats provided by the school; those who are late should bring folding chairs, Mr. Farr said.

The district includes Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich, Wareham and Marion.

If the weather turns sour, Upper Cape Tech will move the ceremony into the gym at 3 p.m. Parents of seniors will be called, and the postponement notice will be placed on the Upper Cape Web site.

"Our goal this year was to get this ceremony back on campus and hold it outside," Mr. Farr said. "So far, so good. We will add more pomp and circumstance as we go along."